Traffic in both directions share the south bound lanes of the Northway's Twin Bridges as bridge work begins Saturday Sept. 8, 2012. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union)

Traffic in both directions share the south bound lanes of the Northway's Twin Bridges as bridge work begins Saturday Sept. 8, 2012. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union)

Photo: John Carl D'Annibale

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South bound traffic slows to a crawl as vehicles merge to share the south bound lanes with north bound traffic as work beginson the Northway's Twin Bridges Saturday Saturday Sept. 8, 2012. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union) less

South bound traffic slows to a crawl as vehicles merge to share the south bound lanes with north bound traffic as work beginson the Northway's Twin Bridges Saturday Saturday Sept. 8, 2012. (John Carl ... more

Photo: John Carl D'Annibale

Image 4 of 5

South bound traffic slows to a crawl as vehicles merge to share the south bound lanes with north bound traffic as work beginson the Northway's Twin Bridges Saturday Saturday Sept. 8, 2012. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union) less

South bound traffic slows to a crawl as vehicles merge to share the south bound lanes with north bound traffic as work beginson the Northway's Twin Bridges Saturday Saturday Sept. 8, 2012. (John Carl ... more

Photo: John Carl D'Annibale

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A weekend for waiting

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Twin Bridges? This weekend, they're bringing twin headaches.

Late Friday night, the state Department of Transportation closed the northbound bridge, rerouting traffic over the southbound span. Six lanes of traffic were reduced to two.

The predictable result? Long delays on Saturday.

Expect more of the same on Sunday.

"We have been working for several weeks to raise public awareness about this project and will continue to do so," DOT spokeswoman Carol Breen said Saturday. "We encourage motorists to find alternate routes when traveling this weekend."

At midafternoon on Saturday, northbound traffic stalled at Exit 6, where the highway meets with Route 7, turning a quick trip over the Mohawk River into a 30-minute ordeal.

That was bad.

More Information

Down to a crawl

The state Department of Transportation's $29 million project means the replacement of concrete decks on the Thaddeus Kosciuszko Bridges. To follow the construction and check for updates, visit https://www.dot.ny.gov/twinbridges.

But the southbound side of the highway was worse.

There, traffic stopped just after Exit 8, about two miles before the bridge, resulting in delays of 40 to 60 minutes for some drivers.

Drivers who tried to avoid the construction didn't necessarily avoid delays. On the most obvious alternate path, Route 9, traffic was also tied up at times on Saturday.

The work on what is officially known as the Thaddeus Kosciuszko Bridge is part of a $29 million overhaul that is removing and replacing concrete decks that have been in place since the span was built in 1959.

Work will continue on the northbound bridge on weekends this September and October, although construction will pause over the Columbus Day weekend.

The DOT expects that this weekend may have the longest delays, as drivers subsequently are more likely to adjust to the construction and find alternate routes.

But another adjustment period — and additional headaches — will come at winter's end.